Birth Control: Medicines To Help You

Introduction

If you do not want to get pregnant, there are many birth control
options to choose from. No one product is best for everyone. The only sure way
to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs or STDs) is not to
have any sexual contact (abstinence). This guide lists FDA-approved products for
birth control. Talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about the best method
for you.

If you will need a prescription or if
you can buy the method over-the-counter.

The number of pregnancies expected per
100 women who use a method for one year. For comparison, about 85
out of 100 sexually active women who do not use any birth control can expect to
become pregnant in a year.

This booklet lists pregnancy rates of typical
use. Typical use shows how effective the different methods are during
actual use (including sometimes using a method in a way that is not correct or
not consistent).

For more information on the chance of getting pregnant
while using a method, please see Trussell,J. (2011)."Contraceptive failure in
the United States." Contraception 83(5):397-404.